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Only an improbable NRR swing can deny champions an automatic return to Lord’s after 22-ball win

ECB Media25-Aug-2025

Oval Invincibles all but booked their place in The Hundred Final at Lord’s next Sunday, with a crushing victory over London Spirit in a one-side Bank Holiday clash at the Kia Oval.Sam Billings’ team will be there, barring a run-rate miracle later this week, without the agonies of going through Saturday’s Eliminator, having won the toss and chosen to field against their London rivals.Their day started on the back foot, as Jamie Smith launched into a habitual powerplay onslaught. He sent the first two balls of the match from Jason Berhrendorff to the boundary, but he was then out for 28 from the 20th ball of the innings, having faced 15 of them. The game never looked quite so easy after that, the highlights being a stunning one-handed catch from Will Jacks to get rid of Surrey teammate Ollie Pope from a Sam Curran slower ball, and rapid cameos from Jamie Overton and Ryan Higgins, who exactly matched Smith’s stats despite a slow start. The two put on a tournament-high sixth wicket stand of 54.A total of 152 for 7 seemed a little below-par on a decent surface, but a first-baller for Tawanda Muyeye gave the Spirit hope. Then Jacks and Jordan Cox put on 64 in 35 balls, Jacks taking the lead with some clean striking, a 92-metre maximum over extra cover off Overton the standout moment of his 27-ball 45.Sam Curran joined Cox, so often a profitable partnership this year, and they eased their way towards their target before the Spirit’s most successful bowler, Liam Dawson, tempted Curran with a wide one that he skied to point. Cox (47 from 27), the competition’s leading run-scorer, hit Overton for six and four before he was castled trying to ramp the same bowler.But that merely brought in Donovan Ferreira who again showcased his muscular hitting, ending with 24 off 9 as the Invincibles booked their passage to the final (barring an almost impossible 200+ swing) by six wickets with 22 balls to spare.Of his catch, Meerkat Match Hero Jacks said: “We were struggling to see the ball today, so I picked it up late, pure luck!”And of the batting effort: “It felt brilliant with the bat, the wicket only got better as the lights came on and Coxy made it easy for me. We’ve been looking for that top spot, we know how important it is to get straight to the final and to be able to watch the two teams play the night before. We’ve still got things to improve on… but we’re looking forward to Sunday.”

The fast bowler hurt himself when he dived full-length in an attempt to prevent a boundary

Sreshth Shah10-Dec-2025New Zealand fast bowler Blair Tickner, their standout performer on the opening day of the second Test in Wellington, suffered a suspected dislocation of his left shoulder and was taken off the field on a stretcher.Tickner had earlier torn through West Indies’ batting with a four-wicket haul, but injured himself in the 67th over while attempting to prevent a boundary at fine leg. Chasing a flick from Tevin Imlach, he dived full-length near the rope and stayed down immediately, prompting concern from his team-mates. The medical staff from the New Zealand camp and the venue attended to him on the boundary edge before he was stretchered off – sitting upright – to warm applause from the Basin Reserve crowd.”He [Tickner] left the field with a left shoulder injury and was transported to hospital shortly afterwards,” NZC said in a release. “Once the medical team and local doctors have done their work with him an update will be fed back.”Related

Henry, Santner, Nathan Smith ruled out of rest of WI Test series

Playing his first Test since early 2023, Tickner had been drafted into the XI for this match after injuries to Matt Henry and Nathan Smith in Christchurch. His 4 for 32 from 16 overs made him comfortably New Zealand’s best bowler on the day. His injury, however, adds to an already lengthy list of unavailable fast bowlers this series, which includes Ben Sears, Will O’Rourke and Matt Fisher.New Zealand are now facing the prospect of losing a third fast bowler mid-Test this series. They were similarly reduced in Christchurch, which had a knock-on effect and allowed West Indies to bat out for a draw. The setback also dampened the mood at the Basin Reserve among the fans and the New Zealand players, following what had been an upbeat second and third sessions for the hosts.Before being forced off, Tickner trapped Brandon King (33) and Kavem Hodge (0) lbw, used a sharp bouncer to dismiss Shai Hope for 48, and uprooted Roston Chase’s leg stump to put New Zealand firmly in control.Should Tickner be ruled out of the remainder of the match, it would be a major blow to an already inexperienced seam attack of Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes and debutant Michael Rae. Remarkably, New Zealand’s top two wicket-takers in the Test so far are part-timers Glenn Phillips (31 Test wickets) and Kane Williamson (30).This Test is also New Zealand’s first in 13 years where they have fielded a seam-bowling unit with fewer than 50 career Test wickets between them – the last instance coming in Kingston in 2012, the match in which Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner first played together.

Major League Baseball features one of the most grueling schedules in sports, with 162 games spread out over six-plus months. Players who can perform when everyone else is worn down are worth their weight in gold to contending teams.

As we turn to September and October, teams in the playoff hunt will lean on those with extensive track records of success to lift them into the postseason. What follows is a look at each player on a National League contender with the best and worst September track records. We've lumped October numbers from the regular season into these calculations since the sample sizes are too small to warrant their own category.

It's fascinating to see which guys step up when the games matter most.

Milwaukee Brewers

Best: William Contreras

Contreras is having another excellent season, and he could really put the hammer down in the season's final month, judging by his past track record. In 80 career September/October games, Contreras is slashing .305/.402/.462 with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs. That on-base percentage is his highest in any month, his .864 OPS is excellent, and his wRC+ of 139 is stellar for a catcher.

Worst: Andrew Vaughn

Vaughn has been great for the Brewers since they traded for him in June. That said, he's traditionally been pretty bad late in the season. In 91career games in the season's final month, Vaughn is slashing .235/.279/.372, with 11 home runs, 41 RBIs and 76 strikeouts against 19 walks. Only his March/April OPS of .647 is worse than his September/October mark of .651. His wRC+ of 81 is also brutal, though he rebounded last September with a mark of 131. So maybe things are looking up.

Philadelphia Phillies

Best: Bryce Harper

Like Shohei Ohtani with the Dodgers, this shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. While Harper got a run for his money from Kyle Schwarber, his late-season track record is the best on the team. In 329 career September/October games, Harper is slashing .274/.390/.509 with 61 home runs and 167 RBIs. The future Hall of Famer boasts an OPS of .900 and a wRC+ of 139. Last season, that mark was 157, so he may overperform his career numbers again.

Worst: Bryson Stott

While Harper is outstanding late in the season, Stott is not. The 27-year-old former first-rounder has played in 77 career games in September and October and is slashing .242/.295/.335, with four home runs and 26 RBIs. His OPS of .630 is only five points better than his worst month (.625 in May) and that .295 on-base percentage is his worst. His wRC+ of 75 is woeful and the bad news is that it is buoyed by one average season. He posted a mark of 100 in 2022, then dropped to 52 in 2023 and 72 in 2024.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Best: Shohei Ohtani

Shocking that the best player on the planet would be L.A.'s best player in the final month of the season. The three-time MVP has a career September slash line of .291/.385/.551 with 29 home runs, 87 RBIs and an OPS of .936 in 136 games. His wRC+ for the month is 151, and he was even better in 2024 when he posted a ridiculous OPS of 1.225 and a wRC+ of 232. Of course, Ohtani will be on the mound in September for the first time since 2022, and his track record is stellar. In 65 2/3 career September innings, he's 5–3 with a 2.47 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and opposing hitters have a .581 OPS.

Worst: Tyler Glasnow

It's tough to find a Dodger with a truly bad track record in the season's final month, but Glasnow gets the nod here. In 29 career games in September/October, Glasnow is 7–8 with a 4.38 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 162 strikeouts against 56 walks in 123 1/3 innings. Those are his highest ERA and WHIP totals in any month. The 2023 season was the last time he saw action in September, and he posted a 4.86 ERA. We'll see if he can bounce back this season.

Chicago Cubs

Best: Seiya Suzuki

Researching articles like this is always fascinating because you learn unexpexted things. Like how I had no idea Suzuki is an absolute monster in September. In 71 career games, the 31-year-old is slashing .333/.422/.564, with 13 home runs and 41 RBIs. His OPS of .986 is his highest in a month by 107 points, and his wRC+ of 172 is only two points behind Aaron Judge as the best among active players. What did to Gen Z brains this summer, Suzuki does to pitching in September.

Worst: Carson Kelly

I'll admit some of these were difficult to parse, going through long track records to compare players. This was by far the easiest selection on this list because Kelly has been in September throughout his career. In 147 career games in the season's final month, Kelly is slashing .186/.252/.299, with 10 home runs and 43 RBIs. His .551 OPS in September is 132 points lower than any other month, and his wRC+ is 50, meaning he’s half as good as the average major league hitter in September.

The veteran catcher has revitalized his career in Chicago, so maybe this year will be different.

San Diego Padres

Best: Luis Arraez*

Arraez is at his best to open and close the season. The three-time batting champion consistently struggles in August only to turn it on in September and finish strong. In 126 career games, he's slashing .336/.371/.458 for an OPS of .829, his best of any month. His career September wRC+ of 128 is excellent and is buoyed by an incredible finish to 2023 when he hit .384 with a 1.038 OPS and a 175 wRC+.

Worst: Jake Cronenworth

Cronenworth has quietly had a solid season for the Padres, but given his track record, that could come to a screeching halt this month. The 31-year-old has consistently tailed off in September during his career. In 96 career games, she's slashing .208/.294/.341, all of which are his lowest numbers for any month. His .636 September OPS is brutal, as is his wRC+ of 82. His wRC+ has never topped 93 in September during his five-year career.

New York Mets

Best: Juan Soto

Given that Soto is a generational hitter, you'd expect to find him here. He doesn't necessarily get better as the season goes along, but he certainly stays consistent. In 188 career games in the season's final month, the $765 million man is slashing .290/.440/.528, with 36 home runs, 126 RBIs and 169 walks against 134 strikeouts. That OBP is his best in any month, his .969 OPS is tied as his second-best monthly mark and his 160 wRC+ is one of the best among active players. It's not hard to see why the Mets handed him all that money.

Worst: Mark Vientos

While Vientos doesn't have a ton of late-season experience, he certainly hasn't been at his best in the home stretch. In 63 games during the season's final month, he's slashing .217/.274/.419 with 13 home runs, 28 RBIs, and 77 strikeouts against 15 walks. His .694 OPS is his worst of any month, and his wRC+ of 92 is pretty dismal.

Cincinnati Reds

Best: Ke'Bryan Hayes

Again, research leads to shocking outcomes, and this one ranks up there. You'd expect this result to be flipped, but I assure you it's correct. Hayes is a below-average hitter, but for some reason, he's great late in the season. In 93 career games, he's slashing .299/.344/.475, his best monthly marks across the board. His .819 OPS in September is remarkable considering his career mark is .677. Likewise, his wRC+ in September is 118, while his career mark is 85. It's mind-boggling.

Worst: Elly De La Cruz

De La Cruz remains one of baseball's most electric players, but not during the month of September. In 50 career games, the dynamic shortstop is slashing .219/.308/.374, with five home runs, 25 RBIs and 76 strikeouts against 23 walks. His .682 OPS is his second-worst of any month, and his 85 wRC+ is well below his talent level. Those numbers are ominous for the Reds as they try to make a late-season playoff push.

يستعد فريق إنتر ميامي، بقيادة النجم ليونيل ميسي، لخوض مباراة نهائي بطولة الدوري الأمريكي لكرة القدم، نسخة 2025، مساء السبت، للمرة الأولى في تاريخ النادي.

ويستضيف ملعب “لوكهارت” مباراة نهائي نسخة 2025 من بطولة الدوري الأمريكي، بين فريقي إنتر ميامي وفانكوفر وايت كابس.

كان إنتر ميامي، بقيادة النجم ليونيل ميسي، قد أصبح بطلًا للقسم الشرقي بعدما فاز على نيويورك سيتي بخمسة أهداف مقابل هدف.

من جهة أخرى، حقق فريق فانكوفر وايت كابس، الذي يحترف في صفوفه توماس مولر، فوزًا على سان دييجو بثلاثة أهداف لهدف، في نهائي البلاي أوف للقسم الغربي، ليضرب موعدًا مع إنتر ميامي. موعد مباراة إنتر ميامي وفانكوفر اليوم في نهائي الدوري الأمريكي

تنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة 9:30 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 10:30 بتوقيت السعودية. القناة الناقلة لمباراة إنتر ميامي وفانكوفر اليوم في نهائي الدوري الأمريكي

تُذاع مباريات الدوري الأمريكي عبر APPLE TV.

ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا.

With the managerial search ongoing at Celtic, Martin O’Neill has reportedly made a key decision about his role as interim boss in an unexpected twist.

The 73-year-old is back in the Celtic dugout for the first time in 20 years and turned back the clocks in midweek to get the Bhoys back to winning ways against Falkirk. Whilst he was initially keen to reiterate that he’s just keeping the seat warm in Scotland, there’s no denying that he didn’t miss a beat back in the technical area.

Speaking to reporters following a dominant 4-0 victory, the interim boss said: “I’m delighted, satisfied in the sense I thought we played very well.

“My anxiety has calmed somewhat, and it was really nice to win. When you get a few goals in front you can perhaps enjoy the last 10 or 15 minutes, and it kind of brought me back. I’ve not seen Celtic often, not live, to make criticism of this side. A restoration of confidence was great.”

The small matter of the Old Firm derby now awaits this weekend in a fixture that will truly test O’Neill’s managerial powers at Celtic Park.

Meanwhile, as the veteran manager attempts to steady to ship in Glasgow, Parkhead chiefs are still on the hunt for their next manager and have already been forced to move on from the idea of an Ange Postecoglou return.

Instead, Celtic have reportedly turned towards the likes of Kieran McKenna and Club Brugge’s Nicky Hayen in an attempt to solve their managerial problem. But could their solution lie from within? O’Neill’s latest decision certainly suggests it’s possible.

O'Neill makes new decision about Celtic job

According to Football Insider, O’Neill is now prepared to take the Celtic job until the end of the season if the next few games go to plan. The Northern Irishman has reportedly been excited by his return to the Hoops and has changed his mind about just taking the role on an interim basis.

Any decision will come after results against Rangers in the Scottish League Cup semi-final, Midtylland in the Europa League and Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership, but victory in all three of those games would certainly welcome the question.

O'Neill 2.0: Celtic chasing "one of the best coaches" as Ange alternative

Rather than Ange Postecoglou, should Celtic appoint “one of the best coaches” in the EFL who would repeat Martin O’Neill’s success from 2 decades ago?

ByBen Gray Oct 31, 2025

If O’Neill stayed on until the end of the current campaign, it would also buy Celtic some time to get their next appointment right. By the time that May arrives, Postecoglou could even be ready for a return to football following a frustrating last 12 months.

It would also be easier to tempt options like Hayen away from Club Brugge once the season is over. The return of O’Neill after 20 years wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card, yet it could make sense if things start well.

Before anything, however, the interim boss must steady the ship at the home of the Scottish champions.

Celtic vs Rangers team news as Tierney update emerges

The Angels are in need of a new manager after former skipper Ron Washington and interim manager Ray Montgomery's departures following the season. Los Angeles may look to a franchise legend to fill the opening.

According to a new report from 's Sam Blum and Katie Woo, Angels general manager Perry Minasian met with Albert Pujols in St. Louis to discuss L.A.'s managerial opening. Blum and Woo noted that nothing is official at this time, but the meeting went well and a contract is being discussed, although an announcement is not expected to be imminent.

Washington stepped away from the team in June due to health reasons and Montgomery took over for the rest of the season as the Angels went 72-90, missing the MLB playoffs for the 11th straight season. Pujols, the 11-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion with the Cardinals, was with the Angels from 2012 to '21 before he spent a year with the Dodgers and returned to St. Louis for his final season.

He was with the Angels in '23 as a special assistant after his playing career ended. Last year, he was named manager of Leones del Escogido in his native Dominican Republic, where he led the team to a league title and a win in the '25 Caribbean Series. He's also set to manage the Dominican Republic team in the '26 World Baseball Classic. Although a deal with the Angels isn't done, it seems like a perfect fit for the former slugger with 3,384 hits and 703 career home runs.

noted that one of the most important parts of their discussions is Pujols's 10-year, $10 million post-retirement contract he signed with the Angels as part of his 10-year, $240 deal to join the team in '12. We'll see if the all-time great returns to the big leagues with his first MLB managerial job.

All the records and RCB and Jitesh Sharma broke against LSG on Tuesday

Sampath Bandarupalli27-May-2025228 Target that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) successfully chased on Tuesday. It is the third-highest successful chase in the IPL. Punjab Kings (PBKS) had chased 262 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2024 but were on the losing side earlier this season when Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) chased 246.204 Target RCB chased against Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in 2010, their previous highest successful chase in the IPL. Overall, the 228-run chase was only the third successful 200-plus chase for RCB in the IPL.7-0 RCB became the first team to win all their away matches during the league stage of an IPL edition. KKR and Mumbai Indians (MI) also won seven away matches in the 2012 season, but it was across eight games, and they lost one. Gujarat Titans (GT) lost only one away match in 2023, winning their remaining six.Only three teams before RCB had won all their away matches during the league phase of a T20 tournament, involving five-plus teams (minimum of five away matches). Otago in the HRV Cup 2012-13, Titans in Ram Slam T20 Challenge 2015-16, and Guyana Amazon Warriors in CPL 2019 won all their five away matches in the league phase of the respective tournaments.85* Jitesh Sharma’s score in the chase on Tuesday is the third highest while batting at No. 6 or lower in the IPL. Hardik Pandya’s 91 against KKR in 2019 and Andre Russell’s 88* against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2018 are ahead of Jitesh’s knock.Jitesh’s effort is also comfortably the highest in a successful IPL chase, with the previous highest being 70*.8 Fifty-plus scores for Virat Kohli in IPL 2025, all of them resulting in wins for RCB. These are the most fifty-plus scores by any batter in wins in an IPL season. Kohli and David Warner in 2016 and Shubman Gill in 2023 had seven fifty-plus scores in wins.5 IPL editions where Kohli has scored 600-plus runs, including the IPL 2025. These are the most for any batter, surpassing KL Rahul, who did it four times.1 Rishabh Pant’s unbeaten 118 is the first individual hundred across 22 IPL matches in Lucknow. It was his second hundred in the IPL, having scored 128* against SRH in 2018, but he ended up on the losing side both times.203 Runs scored by the captains on Tuesday – 118* by Pant and 85* by Jitesh. Only once did the captains aggregate more runs in an IPL match – 210 by KL Rahul (91 for PBKS) and Sanju Samson (119 for RR) in 2021 at Wankhede.74 Runs conceded by Will O’Rourke in his four overs are the third most by any bowler in an IPL match. The 76 runs Jofra Archer conceded against SRH and 75 by Mohammed Shami against PBKS are higher than O’Rourke’s 74, all in the IPL 2025.9030 Runs scored by Kohli for RCB in all T20s. He is now the first player to aggregate 9000-plus runs for a team in this format. The next highest is 6030 by Rohit Sharma for MI.

After a winter of financial wrangling, arrivals of Williamson and Paterson offer an overdue sense of optimism

Andrew Miller02-Apr-2025It’s hard these days to claim that the clouds at Middlesex have ever entirely rolled away. And yet, with the sun beating down on a glorious April afternoon at Lord’s, ahead of Lancashire’s visit for Friday’s County Championship opener, it felt possible for a moment to believe in new beginnings – even if several cold hard realities remain lurking on the fringes of the club narrative.”It’s always niggling away in the background, obviously, but I think the club as a whole have navigated through really well,” Richard Johnson, Middlesex’s head coach, told ESPNcricinfo, after a winter of discontent and, at times, outright rancour. “This group have been amazing to be honest. We haven’t let it affect the changing-room at all, and you feel like you’re coming to the other side now.”In terms of the club’s immediate balance sheet, that would appear to be the case. In February, Middlesex’s ugly and protracted row with their former CEO Richard Goatley reached a conclusion of sorts with the recovery of some £100,000 of unauthorised expenses, while the club’s slender profit of £131,000 in 2023 – attained largely through the cost-cutting that contributed to that season’s relegation – has allowed them to shake off the spectre of ECB special measures.And now, in theory, it’s onwards and upwards into a brighter new era, as epitomised by Middlesex’s trio of overseas signings for the coming season … which is three more than they allowed themselves last time out while still deep in the depths of austerity.Related

• Middlesex recover £100,000 of missing funds but former CEO avoids criminal charges

• Corey Flintoff signs rookie contract with Kent

• Williamson backs international windows and WTC 'tweaks'

• Switch Hit: New season, fresh vibe

• James Anderson to sit out April but refuses to bow out yet

The great Kane Williamson is clearly the biggest deal of these (even if the nature of that arrangement, as a spin-off of his Hundred deal with London Spirit, begs as many questions as it answers). However, the most immediately consequential could be South Africa’s former Nottinghamshire stalwart, Dane Paterson, who has a date with destiny looming at the World Test Championship final on June 11, and four home matches in the meantime in which to hone his Lord’s length.”It’s a win-win, he’ll be highly motivated,” Johnson said. “He can’t wait to get over and start playing. His performances for Nottinghamshire over the last three or four years have been amazing – 180 wickets at 23 – so he’s full of experience, and someone you can lean on as a player and a coach to perform.”Add to the mix Ireland’s Josh Little, primarily for the T20 Blast, plus Gloucestershire’s ex-Pakistan spinner Zafar Gohar, and such is the quality, it’s easy to overlook the fact that Middlesex have actually streamlined their squad since last season – with the departures of Ethan Bamber to Warwickshire and Mark Stoneman to Hampshire among the most significant.”We’ve recruited really well, even though we’ve had to let some good people go,” Johnson said. “Kane brings that stardust, and he’s not even someone I can say we lacked when we weren’t able to bring in overseas players, because to get a player of that quality is quite unusual.Kane Williamson will feature for Middlesex as part of his deal with London Spirit•Getty Images”I don’t even know how that side of things works,” he added. “All I got was a phone call to say, ‘do you fancy Kane Williamson playing for you?’ And I was like, ‘yeah, okay, no problem!’ To have someone of his stature around, one of the top-four batters of his generation, is just brilliant for our younger players and senior players alike, because you can gain so much from having a guy like him in your changing room.”For Toby Roland-Jones, Middlesex’s veteran seamer and Championship captain, Williamson’s arrival is no less of a surprise, but one that he is eager to lean into, not least given his long and successful stint in charge of New Zealand, which culminated in victory in the inaugural World Test Championship final in 2021.”When someone of that magnitude comes in, his impact can spread a little bit further than just runs on the pitch,” Roland-Jones said. “I’m looking forward to picking his brains, and exploring how he sees the game, once you’re over the ropes.”With captaincy, everyone tries to be themselves and have their own stance,” he added. “But you’re always learning on this job, whether you’re 37 or 21, and fundamentally, any chance you get to see a different side of the game, or even just get a bit of confirmation that you’re aligning with certain views, is great. That’s the thing that keeps us all coming back.”Dane Paterson was a quality performer for Nottinghamshire before his move to Middlesex•Getty ImagesRoland-Jones himself is back for a third season as captain, conscious of the creep of time as he enters his 38th year, but no less committed to the cause than he was when taking a hat-trick to seal Middlesex’s last County Championship title way back in 2016.”I do feel good,” he said. “I’m probably somewhere in the middle of those two adages, of knowing when it’s time, but also of pulling the pin too early. But my mentality towards the game and bowling has always been to push things as far as I can. If I can find the right balance over the next year or two years, or whatever it is, then I’ll be in a good place to know when it’s right. It certainly doesn’t feel like that at the moment, but ask me in October when I’m struggling to get out of bed in the morning!”Last summer’s haul of 52 wickets at 22.55 backs up Roland-Jones’ assertion that he’s still got what it takes. Sadly, however, the chance to compare his creaking bones with those of English cricket’s most venerable seamer, James Anderson, will not come to pass this week. Anderson had been due to lead Lancashire’s attack at the age of 42, but has now been ruled out until May with a calf strain.”I was also looking forward to seeing him run in, and I feel for him,” Roland-Jones said. “I think the boys were excited to match up and test themselves out too, and I hope he has a speedy recovery. But, fundamentally, arguably the best English bowler of all time is missing the first game of the year here in April, and that serves us better than him playing. So from that side of things, I can probably accept it.”The chance to get out there and play – in what should be perfect spring conditions, and in what on paper promises to be a clash between two of the likelier promotion candidates – could be just the tonic that Middlesex need. After a glut of negative headlines, and amid that nagging existential angst, it’s time to let the cricket do the talking.”We’ve been close in two different ways the last two years,” Roland-Jones said, reflecting on the narrow margins by which Middlesex were relegated in 2023 and then missed out on an immediate return with last summer’s third-place finish. “In those situations, you probably get a clearer picture of the good parts of your squad, as well as those bits that are missing.”Certainly, the guys upstairs have tried to address that. I do feel like we’re going into this campaign with more depth in key positions, and a bit of added confidence and experience from some of the guys who are still establishing themselves and hopefully maturing and growing more and more. It feels like we’re really nicely placed.”

It is understood that Haider was arrested in Beckenham where the Shaheens were playing

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Aug-2025Haider Ali has been arrested by the Greater Manchester Police on suspicion of rape and bailed pending further enquiries. The Pakistan batter, who was with the Shaheens squad, the de facto ‘A’ team on a tour against of England, remains in the UK. A Shaheens squad, which includes a number of players on the England tour, has flown to Australia to take part in a multi-team T20 series. Haider was part of the squad due to go to Australia, and has been replaced by allrounder Mohammad Faiq”After receiving a report on Monday 4 August 2025 of a rape, we have arrested a 24-year-old man,” a statement from Greater Manchester Police confirmed to ESPNcricinfo. “It’s alleged that the incident occurred on Wednesday 23 July 2025 at a premises in Manchester. The man has since been bailed pending further enquiries. The victim is being supported by officers.”It is understood that Haider was arrested in Beckenham where the Shaheens were playing the last of their five games of the tour. Haider played each of the five games, including the first two on 22 and 25 July, between which the incident he was arrested for is alleged to have occurred in Manchester on 23 July. The offence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment in the UK.Related

Manchester police drop all charges against Haider Ali

Haider Ali under criminal investigation in the UK, suspended by the PCB

On Thursday, the PCB issued a statement confirming Haider was under criminal investigation in the UK and suspended him pending the results of that investigation. It affirmed that the board “fully respects the legal procedures and processes of the UK” and were providing the player with legal support.Haider, 24, has played two ODIs and 35 T20Is for Pakistan. Initially feted as a destructive power hitter, his reputation burnished with standout performances in the PSL with Peshawar Zalmi in 2020, when he scored 239 runs at a strike rate of over 157. He was called up to the national side later that year, his international debut coming in a T20I game in Manchester, where he scored a 33-ball 54 as Pakistan won by five runs.Inconsistency has dogged him since, and he has repeatedly found himself in and out of the side. However, his talent and explosiveness have kept him in international contention, and the current Shaheens tour was widely viewed as an opportunity to reintegrate a player whose batting approach aligns with the aggressive style Pakistan’s current T20 set-up has made no secret they want to pursue.The PCB has said that they intend to make no further public comment until legal proceedings are complete.

أسدل الستار على مباريات الجولة الثالثة ضمن منافسات المجموعة الرابعة في بطولة كأس العرب 2025، والمقامة على الأراضي القطرية.

ولعب المنتخب الجزائري مع نظيره العراقي في لقاء حسم المتصدر، فيما التقى المنتخب السوداني مع نظيره البحريني.

طالع|فيديو | بهزيمة وتعادلين.. منتخب مصر يودع كأس العرب بالخسارة بثلاثية أمام الأردن

وفاز منتخب البحرين على نظيره السوداني، بثلاثة أهداف لهدف، في لقاء أقيم ضمن مباريات الجولة الثالثة من منافسات المجموعة الرابعة في بطولة كأس العرب 2025، والمقامة على الأراضي القطرية.

كما انتصر منتخب الجزائر على نظيره العراقي بهدفين نظيفين ضمن نفس الجولة، ليخطف محاربو الصحراء الصدارة بسبع نقاط، بينما العراق ثانيا بست نقاط.

وودع منتخب البحرين البطولة بعد احتلال المركز الثالث بثلاث نقاط، كما انتهى مشوار السودان الرابع أيضا برصيد نقطة. ترتيب المجموعة الرابعة في كأس العرب 2025 بعد انتهاء دور المجموعات

1- الجزائر 7 نقاط.

2- العراق 6 نقاط.

3- البحرين 3 نقاط.

4- السودان نقطة.